St. Louis Blues GM Doug Armstrong speaks with reporters about signing Pavel Buchnevich to a six-year extension, acquiring Radek Faksa and Mathieu Joseph via trade, and evaluating prospects at Blues Development Camp.
People will love him in the next few years when the plan takes more shape like nothing ever happened. Talking about his plan and players not hasten is taking over
Thumbs up on the Buchnevich signing and the two trades. Doug Armstrong just illustrated an important strategy for improving teams at the Blues’ competitive level. That being to wait until the day after all the free agent signings to take advantage of teams that now have to move good under contract players because their free agent signings put them over the cap.
We need new coaching on special teams. The PP and PK are dismal and at the bottom of the league. We've been in the basement in these stats for too long. I hope the management makes some changes in the PP and PK coaching before the start of the 2024-2025 season.
I'm not sure why people want the Blues to completely change the defense. The defensemen were actually alright last season, other than Krug. It's the forwards who need to play better defensively. Other than Krug (-31) and Faulk (-2), the rest of the players that finished with a minus on the season were forwards. The worst ones coming from Schenn, Neighbours and Kyrou. The Blues would have easily made the playoffs last year if the forwards played better on the defensive side of the game.
I think if you check out the depth of the team before the trade deadline where we sent a lot out and last year; we’re like 1 forward short. Vrana working out would have changed things, as an example. I think the existing forwards were fine last year; we just didn’t have the depth historically have as it was turned into draft picks. Hard salary cap and aging makes teams ebb and flow like this.
Notice how Spoilers played better when their forwards played better defensively than offensively., especially, after 0 -3 start even though IF they coulda woulda scored more in, at least, ONE of those first 3 games, it likely wouldn't have gone 7 games.
I thought Buchie played great as the 2nd line center in the last dozen games or so of last season. I love Schenn, but at this point I'd rather him switch to a top-6 winger role or go center the 3rd line. If we basically swap out Hayes for Schenn this season on the 3rd line, then the team immediately becomes much deeper.
I think I agree with you completely except I wouldn’t mind trying Texier on the second line and if that doesn’t work maybe call up Dvorsky if he adapts well in AHL. I don’t personally think we should settle for Schenn or Buch as 2C.
You forgot to mention that he can’t protect the front of the net. Also, that his much vaunted offense has faded into mediocrity. Especially considering all the first grouping power play time that he gets.
Let Krug play out this season. Then trade him next season when he has a modified no trade. We aren't winning the cup this season( id love to be wrong) so it would be a waste to buy out a contract like that.
@@mattf6397 Good point. Also, there will be 2 less years on the buyout penalty if they buy him out. But, they need to quit playing him as a top 4 defenseman which he most definitely is not. Admit his signing was a horrible mistake and put him on the bottom pairing where he belongs. I’d rather have his $6.5 million sitting on the bench most of the game than giving up lots of goals when he’s on the ice.